If your lawn is made mostly of cool-season grasses, it may suffer from the summer heat. After all, these grasses, by definition, prefer the colder temperatures of spring and fall. However, there is one thing you can do to repair any summer damage to your lawn: overseeding.
Lawn overseeding is exactly what it sounds like. You put seed over existing grass to thicken and lushen it. As a result, such a seeding makes sense only if the current grass is healthy and numerous enough to warrant preservation. If you presently have just 50% coverage, you should probably rip up the existing grass and plant a new lawn from seed.
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Getting Ready for the Job
Because you will be planting seed over existing grass rather than open soil, keep in mind that the seed will compete with the grass. The grass might deprive the seed of the light it needs to thrive.
So, to give the seed a greater chance, trim the existing grass somewhat shorter than usual. Grass, for example, should be trimmed to a height of 3 to 3.5 inches. However, in order to prepare for overseeding, lower that height to 1.5 to 2 inches. Also, bag or rake up grass cuttings before overseeding your lawn. This increases the seed’s chances of making contact with the soil.
Core aeration, often known as lawn aeration, is another method for promoting seed-to-soil contact. This will decrease lawn thatch, which may get in the way of grass seeds and the soil they want to live in. Local garden stores may rent core aerators (also known as lawn aerators).
Purchasing the Seed
Most garden shops will have bags of grass seed that is appropriate for your location. The seed bag you purchase should include information on suggested seeding rates (for beginning new lawns) and overseeding rates. Take note of the distinction: When overseeding lawns, you don’t need to distribute as much seed as when seeding fresh lawns.
Lawn Fertilization
A fertiliser spreader should be used for the actual procedure of overseeding the grass. Despite its name, this device is also designed to disseminate grass seed. Set the spreader to the specified overseeding rate on the grass seed bag. Then, place some seed in the hopper. You are now prepared to go.
Simply push the fertiliser spreader over the grass, releasing seed as you go. When required, refill the hopper. Then, immediately after you finish overseeding, use a starting fertiliser for the greatest results.
Taking Care of the Seedlings
For grass seed to germinate, it must be adequately watered beginning immediately after it is distributed. You don’t want to produce a deluge, so just use a light water spray. Depending on rainfall and your environment, the soil should be maintained equally wet, which may need numerous waterings each day for many weeks. Continue to keep the soil wet even after the seeds sprout.